Leaf-sp-ring



LEAVSPRING. APPLICATION FILED MAY I3. I9I6. IIENEWED DEC. 23, I9IB.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

y UNTTED STATES PATENT crimen.

CHARLES P. MURPHY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

LEAF-SPRING.

Application led May 13, 1916, Serial No. 97,260.

i which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description.

This invention relates to leaf springs especially adapted for use in vehicle suspensions. :The ordinary leaf springs, as Commonly employed for this purpose, are slow in action, are not sufliciently resilient if of the required strength, andy are hard to keep properly lubricated, wherefore it is diiiicult to maintain uniformity of action in such springs. The present invention aims to produce a leaf spring which has none of the above mentioned defects.

The invention consists in the construction and combination'of parts shown in the drawing and hereinafter described and definitely pointed out in the appended claims.

In. the drawing` Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe invention in .its simple form; Fig. 2is a side elevation of a somewhat more efficient but somewhat more expensive embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the invention in its most complete form, and when the springs are suitably protected byv an external casing from the dust of the road; Fig. 4 is an end view of the spring shown inA Fig. 2, ancLFig. 5 is a sectional view in the plane of line 5-5 \on Fig. 3.

leaf `spring constructed in accordance with this invention includes a plurality of normally bent spring leaves, viz., a master leaf 10, and a plurality of supplemental leaves 12. At a suitable point in the lengths of these leaves, preferably at theirv middle points, they are all vrigidly clamped together, as by any suitable clamp 15 the parts of said leaves within the embrace of the clamp being fitted to one another. t

These supplemental springl leaves 12 are of progressively. increasing length, that which is next the master leaf being the short-A est. At or very near theirlends each of these supplemental spring leaves contacts with and vpresses upon the master leaf.' The contact may be direct as shown in Fig-:1, or indirect as through rollers 16 mounted in the en ds of the supplemental leaves, as shown in Fig. 2. Between these points of contact and the clamp 15, these spring leaves'are nor- Specifxcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Aue'. 26, 1919.

Renewed December 23, 1918. Serial No. 268,089.

mally out of contact, that is to say, they are so bent that there is intervening space between them, as shown.

The master leaf is prolonged beyond the end of the longest supplemental leaf, and is provided with means, as an ordinary eye 1l, by which its end may be connected with either the supporting or supported member of a vehicle. In use the clamped part of the described leaf spring may be suitably counected with the body frame of a vehicle,-in which eventthe end or ends of the master leaf may be connected by suitable means with the axle of said vehicle.

It is clear that with the described construction each supplemental leaf is free to flex at all points between its end and its clamped part, andthat none of these springs is reinforced or stiifened by actual engagement with an adjacent leaf. lt is desirable that only the points of contact between the master leaf and ends of the supplemental leaves shall be lubricated. In action the ends of the supplemental leaves will slide more or less upon the master leaf4 and will therefore tend to wear it. This tendency structionshown in Fig. 2, that is to say, on each end of each supplemental leaf are two ears 12, which receive a bolt 13. Upon this bolt a roller 16 is .freely mounted for cngagement with the surface of the master leaf. This roller is preferably formed with the two circumferential fiangcs'l separated such a distance that they will lie on opposite sides of the master leaf. These rollers therefore will not only serve to reduce the friction and to increase the resiliency of the structure, but they will likewise prevent any lateral movement of the supplemental leaves relative to the master leaf.

may be counteracted by means ,of the. con- When such rollers are. not used, it is declamped together near their middle portions,

there is a middle pant 20 of the casing mem* bei' which embraces the clamped part of the springs and also extends a short distance on eac-h side thereof, said middle casing member being embracedv by" the same clamp which fastens the spring leaves together. A

- closed casing member 2'1 is -itted loosely over each end portion; of the leaf spring. At its large end -whichV is adjacent the clampedQpa-rt of the springs this casin-g in alinement with the eye 11 l on the master spring so that the same bol-t which goes through said eye and serves as the means for connecting said master spring with the axle, will likewise connect the casing member and master leaf. These casing members 21 may contain and will retain avery considerable uantity of, lubricant, enough to lubri-cate t ie relatively` movable contacting surfaces of the leaves, and therefore they may be employed .for this purpose as well' as for the primary purpose of keeping dust from settling on the spring leaves.

Having described my invention, 'I claim: l. A leaf spring. comprising a master spring leaf and a plurality of supplemental spring leaves which, at certain points in their length, are clamped to each other'and to the master leaf,.-'said supplemental leaves being of progressively increasingly` length and .being arranged with` the shortestleaf next to the master leaf. and said supplemental leaves being of such shape, substantially as shown, that adjacent their ends they press against the master leaf but are not in con-- tact witheach other except at and adjacent the parts'which are clamped together.

. '2. A leafV spring comprising a 'master spring leaf having a curved middle part and two substantially straight ends, and a plurality of supplemental flat concave-convex spring leaves which are of progressively increasmg length. and are arranged with 'their concave sides facing the master leaf andrwith the lshortest leaf next 'the master lea-f, the middle parts of 'said master leaf its sides holes which register with signature.

and supplementalleaves being clamped toi getlier, and said supplemental leaves being l shaped substantially as shown, whereby all their endsare in contact- With the master leaf but that said supplemental leaves are out of contact with one another except at their middlepoints where they are clamped to the master leaf.

A' 'leaf spring comprising a master spring leaf, and a plurality of supplemental spring leaves which, at certain points in their length, are clamped to each other and to the master leaf,.said supplemental leaves` being of progressively increasing length and being arranged with the shortest leaf. next to the master leaf, and supplemental leaves being of such shape, substantially as shown, that adjacent their ends they press against the master leaf but are not in Contact with eachotherexcept at and adjacentv the parts which are clamped together, a casing member fixed to and embracing the clamped parts of said spring leaves, and -a casing member which' incloses the ends of said spring leaves and telescopes overthe ends of the fixed clampingmember and is connected therewith by a pin and slot pivot,- said end casing member having in an eye on the end of the master-leaf.

4. A leaf spring compris-ing a master spring leaf, and a plurality of supplemental spring leaves which, 4at certain points in their length, are clamped to each other and to the master lea-'f,-said supplemental leaves being of progressively increasing length and being arranged with the shortest'` leaf next to lthe master leaf, and said supplemental leaves being of such shape, substantiallyvas shown, lthat adjacent their ends they press against the master leaf but are not in contact with eachother except at and adjacent the parts which are clamped together, a casing member fixed to and em-v bracing the elampedparts of `said spring leaves, and a casing member which incloses the ends of said spring leaves and telescopes with the ends of the fixed clamping .member and is connected thereto. "In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my CHARLES 'P'. MURPHY. 

